Jadcherla: How groundwater pollution by pharma, Iron companies has become a major poll issue

Jadcherla: It's going to be a neck-to-neck fight between Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA C Laxma Reddy and Congress candidate J Anirudh Reddy. There are a total of 33 candidates in the fray in Jadcherla.

The belt has a strong presence of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and there are candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party, Jana Shankaaraavam Party, Dharma Samaj Party, Bahujan Mukthi Party, All India Forward Bloc, Bharatha Chaitanya Yuvajana Party, Revolutionary Communist Party who have fielded candidates.

Fight is between BRS and Congress

People in Jadcherla say that the real fight is between BRS and Congress. Apart from the anti-incumbency factor, allegations of land grabbing, commissions in land dealings and projects, and lack of development are the major complaints of locals.

With the assembly elections scheduled for November 30, the Jadcherla constituency witnesses a competitive field. BJP's Chittaranjan Das, BRS' Charlakola Laxma Reddy, and Congress' J. Anirudh Reddy emerge as key contenders.

Land pollution

Due to the pharma companies in Jadcherla, the pollution of groundwater and land within a radius of 30 kilometers periphery is a growing concern. There are also iron companies located in the area due to which the metal pollution is very high.

G Ashok of Jadcherla Rangareddy Mandal says, "The green tribunal has given the order to control the pollution levels but there is no implementation yet. We want the environmental protection norms to be followed by the state government."

Environmental concerns add complexity to the narrative, with the presence of pharma and iron companies causing pollution. Despite Green Tribunal orders, the state government's reluctance to implement directives exacerbates the environmental challenges.

The upcoming projects of Pharma City and other ventures have created employment and those from other parts of India have settled in the area. There is also a private international school set up in the region. Development which is along the highway and in the main town is credited as the success of BRS.

Land Dispute and Tribal Anguish:

The Lambada community is the most affected as they are being left out in the development process. The Lembada Tribes in the Jadcherla constituency express frustration over the alleged land grab of 3000 acres for the Vodentapur reservoir. Living in basic conditions without proper facilities, they turn towards Congress, enticed by the promise of 3 acres of land and houses per family.

S S Naik of Macharam village says, "Our lands were taken away for the projects. We have still not been compensated by the government." Issues of land grabbing, particularly Lambada lands allegedly granted by Indira Gandhi, come to the forefront, causing discontent among the local population. The political tussle revolves around these disputed territories.

Unemployment Woes:

Concerns about unemployment, especially among the youth and retired individuals, resonate in the region, shaping the voters' priorities.

Election Outlook:

With the political scenario in Jadcherla remaining dynamic, the electorate faces a multitude of issues ranging from land disputes to environmental challenges and unemployment. The outcome of the election on December 3 will likely shape the future trajectory of the constituency.